Immigration policies for food and drink in a post-Brexit Britain

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the independent research organisation National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) are holding a joint event on post-Brexit options for immigration policy.  We would be very pleased if you could attend.

The Leave vote has left many employers concerned about the future of their business, especially since free movement looks certain to end. It is crucial that future policy is designed to ensure that employers can continue to source the labour and skills they need. This presents particular challenges for the food and drink sector which employs significant numbers of EU migrants.

NIESR is producing a set of workable options for immigration policy post-Brexit through consulting with employers in sectors which look most likely to feel the impact of the end of free movement.

The joint FDF and NIESR event will be at NIESR’s office in Westminster on 6th December. The event is intended for employers and representative organisations in the food and drink industry. Following the events, NIESR will publish our findings and recommendations for future policy.  To ensure a free and frank discussion no employers will be identified.

Provisional programme

12.30 - 1.00 Arrival and sandwiches

PART 1: EU IMMIGRATION IN THE FOOD AND DRINK MANUFACTURING SECTOR     

1.00 – 1.30

• Introduction and overview of EU immigration in the sector – Heather Rolfe, NIESR Associate Director Employment and Social Policy
• A view from the food and drink sector – Angela Coleshill, FDF Competitiveness Director
• A policy view – Wayne Diamond, Principal Social Researcher, BEIS Europe Directorate
• Options for immigration policy: constraints and possibilities - Jonathan Portes, NIESR

PART 2: ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

1.30- 2.30

• Which areas of the business and sections of the workforce will be most affected by the end of free movement?
• What are the opportunities for increasing levels of recruitment from within the UK?
• What policies might be workable?

Location:

National Institute of Economic and Social Research

2 Dean Trench Street

Smith Square

London SW1P 3HE

RSVP to Luca Pieri l.pieri [at] niesr.ac.uk / 0207 654 1931